Friday, April 29, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-29-16

Grace for your spirit
A man's pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.  Proverbs 29:23

Pride gives us a "high", but it is always a false high without any permanent foundation.  Pride gives us a sense of superiority, but the props are about to crumble.  No wonder God said, "Pride comes before the fall."  and again, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  Pride is an unusual disease.  It makes everyone else sick, and then kills us.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-28-16

Grace for your spirit 
Wake up and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.  Revelation 3:2

This is great advice for everyone.  It would be good for a physical fitness place, as well as a church.  If we don't wake up and do some strength training, everything will die.  While we still have life and breath, our deeds are not complete.  Let's quit thinking of excuses not to, and make a list of reasons that we will wake up and get at it.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-27-16

Grace for your spirit
If only  you would have paid attention to My commandments! Then your well-being would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.  Isaiah 48:18

A peaceful river is such a blessing. It supplies us with many of our needs, both physically and emotionally.  The waves of the sea are constant. They just keep coming.  God has many blessings for us.  His righteousness can be our righteousness, and it can be well with us all our lives.  Those blessing can also flow to the next generation and beyond.  God says, "If Only."  The heart of L IF E, is always IF.  IF we take note, life will always be better.  Blessed and peaceful.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

grace for your spirit 4-26-16

Grace for your spirit
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  II Corinthians 10:5  

When we can renew our minds and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, we can move ourselves from always being on defense against the devil and mount a major offense.  When we are lifted out of the muck and mire of sin, we can see the devil's work and start destroying it.  May God's thoughts transform us so we can be effective soldiers in the war against the devil.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-25-16

Grace for your spirit
Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Soldiers and all those living in war zones, know the threat of land mines.  One wrong step can be the end.  It calls for careful and selective stepping.  As soldiers of the cross, we constantly walk in enemy territory.  The evil one has put spiritual land minds on our paths that require careful walking.  Let's be wise walkers for the Lord.

Friday, April 22, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-22-16

Grace for your spirit
Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.  I Samuel 30:6

Would we like to change our day from sad to glad?  David had a sad day at Ziklag, after they lost everything to the enemy.  Everyone was blaming David and turning on him,  His solution?  He strengthened himself in the Lord his God.  He asked God for directions and received them.  Later, with the help of his God, he pursued and overtook his enemies, returning everything without loss.  His day turned when he strengthened himself in God.  Let's make that the start of everyday. Strengthen, inquire, and go.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-21-16

Grace for your spirit
But the person who does anything defiantly, whether his is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from among his people.  Numbers 15:30

We all sin and come short of the glory of God.  Some things we do unintentionally, and others we may do defiantly.  Defiant willful sin against God is described as blaspheming the Lord.  Blasphemy of the Lord separates us from God and requires repentance.  Jesus in the only sacrifice for sin, there will be no other.  When we sin willfully and defiantly, we need to rush to repentance.  Let's be careful to do the will of God.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-20-16

Grace for your spirit
And the master said to the slave, "Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in so that my house may be filled  Luke 14:23

Evangelism Explosion
One little Christian can’t do much ‘tis true, 
Brought his friend to Bible study, then there were two.
Two little Christians, each brought one more,
That doubled the number, then there were four.
Four enthused Christians worked early and late,
Each brought one, then there were eight.
Eight excited Christians, if they doubled as before,
In just seven weeks, we’d have 1,024.  

We will never know what we can  accomplish until we start.   It starts with one.  Will you be the one?

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-19-16

Grace for your spirit
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2

Do we wish to know the will of God?  Why?  So we can keep it, or see what we can get away with.  Knowing the rules to keep the rules, or knowing the rules to break the rules, is an entirely different thing.  He certainly wants us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, transformed with a renewed mind.  If we clearly understand that, we will want to know what is right to keep right.  That is God's will.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-18-16

Grace for your spirit
And if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them felt his righteous soul tortured day after day by their lawless deeds)  II Peter 2:7-8 

 Apparently the Lord saw something we don't.  When we read the story of Lot's life in Genesis, it leads many to think badly of him.  He made many wrong choices that landed him in Sodom and Gomorrah.  Among all the sin of Sodom, Lot found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  Thankfully, God is our judge too.  Oftentimes, we find ourselves in bad situations, and may be severely judged by those around us.  Let's keep our eyes on the Lord, follow His commands, He will see in us what others miss, and He will rescue us too.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-15-16

Grace for your spirit
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard?  And how will they hear without a preacher?How will they preach unless they are sent?   Romans 10:14-15

There is an old proverb that applies.  "For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost.  For want of a horse the rider was lost.  For want of a rider the message was lost.  For want of the message the battle was lost.  For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.  "
Watch this:  No one sent--no one preaches--no one hears--no one believes--no one calls--no one is saved.   Unless someone is willing to send, and someone is willing to go, and someone is will to teach, nothing can happen. May we choose to say yes for the kingdom.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-14-16

Grace for your spirit 
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.  Matthew 23:25

Jesus desires to fill our cup with grace to bless us all richly.  One main sin of the Pharisees was their resistance to letting Jesus in.  They preferred to keep the appearance of righteousness on the outside, but because their inside was so full of sin, there was no room for Jesus.  Do we mind of Jesus examines in the inside of our cup and cleans it up?  It is our first step to enjoying the cleansing power of His grace.  O Lord, clean my cup, and fill my cup to overflowing.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-13-16

Grace for your spirit
They read from the book, the book of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.  Nehemiah 8:8

These people just back from captivity, were hardly students of God's Law.  You could have left God's law with them, but it probably wouldn't have accomplished what needed to be done.  Ezra "spoon fed" them with the truth they needed.  Even today, people who are not spiritually appraised cannot flourish when we just throw a Bible at them and tell them to read and believe.  We need to read it together, translate, explain, and help them understand.  When will we understand?

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-12-16

Grace for your spirit
And Peter seeing him said to Jesus, "Lord what about this man?  Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow Me?"  John 21:21-22

Jesus said that no one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.  Many expressed to Jesus before accepting Him the desire to look back.  Jesus had just asked Peter to reaffirm his commitment to loving and serving Him.  The call of Jesus was to look forward and walk with him.  Peter, instead of looking at Jesus was looking back and wondering about someone else.  Are we like that?  Let's be fit for the kingdom with our eyes on our Master at all times.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-11-16

Grace for your spirit
By this all men will know that you are My disciple, if you have love for one another.  John 13:35

Do you ever get asked, "What's your sign?"  People are usually asking for your astrological sign so they can determine what kind of person you are.  I hope your interest in spreading the good news of Jesus far outweighs your desire for astrology.  The best answer to "what's your sign?" is; I show that I am a disciple of Jesus by the love that I show for people.  I have no need for bumper stickers, crosses, or fish.  I show my faith by my love.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-8-16

Grace for your spirit
We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2-3

Remember going into restaurants with coffee cups turned upside down on the table?  If you wanted coffee, you would turn your cup over, and when the waitress came by she would see the cup and fill it up.  God wants to fill our cup with grace, peace, and salvation.  What kind of sign is He getting from us.  Has our faith turned our cups up to be filled? Amazing grace can fill our cup up to overflow.  Keep it coming.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-7-16

Grace for your spirit
If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.  john 8:31-32

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a fool; shun him.  He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child; teach him.  He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep; wake him. He who knows, and know he knows is wise;  follow him. This Persian proverb shows us the roads we might follow in our search. Which one right ?
Jesus is the way the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father, except through  Him.  Follow only Him, and those who follow Him.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-6-16

Grace for your  spirit
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  Matthew 22:37

Love is building block of all relationships.  Love binds us together with God, binds us together with people, and binds us together with His commands.  If we worship, serve, and fellowship out of a sense of guilt, duty, or obligation only, we may be on a collision course with danger. There is no command or directive from God that cannot be completed with love.  It will help us over every challenge, and best of all it will never fail.  Let's not wait for tough circumstances to rock our lives.  Love now, and avoid the rush.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Grace for your spirit April 5, 2016

Grace for your spirit
You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy," But I say to you, "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  Matthew 5:43-44

This may be one of our biggest challenges as we strive to be sons of our Father in heaven.  God is able to love evil ones and good ones the same.  God loves all of us the same on our best days and on our worst days.  Let's challenge ourselves.  Think of a person who is our enemy, and would likely never return any love, and love them more.  That is the God way.  May we be able to make it our way too.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-4-16

Grace for your spirit
And why call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:46

Mark Twain told a story about a well known businessman known for his ruthless behavior.  He told Twain he was going to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  He said he was going to climb Mt Sinai and read the Ten Commandments aloud at the top.  Twain told him, "I have a better idea. You could stay here and keep them." It is not what we say, but what we do.  It's not how many verses we can quote, but how many verses we can keep.  Let our lives me our message to the world.

Friday, April 1, 2016

Grace for your spirit 4-1-16

Grace for your spirit
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  Fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Proverbs 1:7

Today is April 1st.  A day set aside by some for foolishness by people of foolishness.  This, like every other day, is a day the Lord has made.  We should rejoice and be glad in it.  May we commit to taking every day the Lord has given us spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  If we are subject to foolishness today, let's return with the wisdom and instruction of God.  Let's plant the fear of the Lord everywhere we can.